Anisotropy

physics. of unequal physical properties along different axes.
compare (def 1).
botany. of different dimensions along different axes.
historical examples

the diurnal curve of movement should now show an inversion, if that movement was solely determined by the anisotropy of the organ.
life movements in plants sir jagadis chunder bose

adjective
not isotropic; having different physical properties in different directions: anisotropic crystals
(of a plant) responding unequally to an external stimulus in different parts of the plant
adj.

1854; see an- (1) “not” + isotropic.

anisotropic an·i·so·trop·ic (ān-ī’sə-trŏp’ĭk, -trō’pĭk)
adj.

not isotropic.

having physical properties that differ according to the direction of measurement.

an·i’so·trop’i·cal·ly adv.
an’i·sot’ro·pism (-sŏt’rə-pĭz’əm) or an’i·sot’ro·py (-sŏt’rə-pē) n.
anisotropic
(ān-ī’sə-trō’pĭk, -trŏp’ĭk, ān’ī-)
differing according to orientation, as light scattered by a liquid crystal; light striking the liquid crystal’s surface at a 90° angle might not be reflected (so the surface appears dark when viewed head-on), while light striking it at shallower angles is reflected (so the surface appears illuminated when viewed from a shallow angle). compare isotropic.